Sennheiser HD 438

Sennheiser HD 438 Review

Popular manufacturer Sennheiser just unleashed a trio of cushy cans under its HD headphone line. Designed for lounging around the house or for use on the go, the HD 428 focuses on lower frequencies and powerful bass, while the top-of-the-line HD 448 boasts the best details. We got our sweaty mitts on the middle-of-the-road offering, the HD 438, which the company says is all about a natural signature sound, with booming bass as well. The HD 438 is fairly no-frills when it comes to packaging. There’s no case and very few extras. Inside the box, there’s a 6.3mm adapter plug and a 9.8-foot cable, in case the unit’s standard 4.5 feet doesn’t provide enough freedom. Either cable can be firmly connected on the left earphone. It’s actually such a tight fit that it took multiple tries to free the cable, along with a lot of fear that something would snap. That said, it’s refreshing to see a set where the cable doesn’t come free with every twist and turn. The actual unit is also pretty barebones. It has the left and right earphones clearly marked, with no volume controls or other extras. The ear padding on the HD 438 fits nicely over your ears, snug as a bug.